profit organization, also known as FJP, consists of an active team of prominent businessmen, professionals, consultants, entrepreneurs, and volunteers who equally cooperate in helping to make Friends of Jeddah Parks what it is today. The board members consist of three women and four men who operate under the umbrella of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and work in partnership with the Municipality to obtain lands throughout Jeddah, turning them into green spaces. Their goal is to create clean open spaces, playgrounds, and sports parks in different neighborhoods throughout the city. Green vision I asked Mayan Al-Zawawi, Community and Park Director, how this bright green idea started and she said: “This idea started with a vision held by Zakia Bandagji, the Vice Chairperson of FJP. Having lived in the Nuzla district, south of Jeddah, Bandagji spent many years witnessing the hardships faced by many of the surrounding neighborhood residents. As such, she harbored a dream to reinvent the area, creating a space for people to enjoy. “Behind Bandagji's house was a piece of land that measured up to 30,000 square meters. Neglected and run down, the land was used as a parking spot for large trucks, debris, and garbage. It had a couple of old, run down swings that the neighborhood managed to enjoy as no other alternative was provided. A neighborhood renewal Bandagji wanted and a renewal she got. With two other women, Salwa Radwan and Samira Niazi, Bandagji did lots of research and assembled a team of experts including urban designers, architects, engineers, and landscapers who had the background to turn this dream into a reality. With funding from generous sponsors who believed in the cause, the empty wasteland became Amira Public Park that is now covered in palm trees, vast grassy areas, picnic benches, a play area with swings and slide sets, a running track, open stage, administration offices, and a van of books provided by My Library where reading sessions are held with community volunteers for the neighborhood children. Amira Park is located in Al-Nuzlah Al-Yamaniah district in South of Jeddah, previously known as the Sabbaan playground. “Prior to the development of Amira Park, FJP built their first park known as Faisal Sports Park. This was the pilot project that turned into a tremendous success story from which everything else followed. Boys who used to play soccer in the streets now play in Faisal Park, women who were confined to their homes and had no place to go now enjoy the sun's rays and Jeddah's balmy weather with their children and young girls too frightened to venture the streets now safely enjoy Amira Park as it is fenced and run with a tight security system that ensures the public's safety.” Al-Zawawi graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the American University of Cairo, so she understands the astounding advantages parks have on communities. She herself started out as a volunteer but as the cause spoke for itself, she became a full time supporter, and finally the director of Friends of Jeddah Parks. Green perks She elaborated on some of the benefits of neighborhood parks: “FJP partnered with Think N Link cooperation, a consultancy firm that conducted the first study in the Kingdom on the impact of parks on surrounding neighborhoods with astounding results. The crime rate seemed to fall followed by a higher and more widespread sense of awareness on social and health matters in addition to an overall improvement educationally amongst community youth members. “This neighborhood of 100,000 residents was assessed before and after Faisal Sports Park was built as part of our procedure, which entails a survey implementation amongst the community prior to the design of any park catering to the specific needs of the community. Faisal Park is also found in Al-Nuzlah Al-Yamaniah providing space for youth to vent their energy and spend time, which automatically reduces violence, damage to properties, and even the level of drug abuse. Al-Nuzlah Al-Yamaniah had been previously ranked as a neighborhood with the third highest crime rate area in Jeddah. This changed after Faisal Sports Park and Amira Public Park opened in this district,” she explained. Generous donors I was curious about where Friends of Jeddah Parks was receiving funds to create and maintain their parks. “The parks we develop are all privately funded. Amira Public Park had donors from three Saudi families who all grew up in the neighborhood – the Abduljawad, Xenel, and Zahid families – previously maintained by Al Majal company for a generous period of eight months covering maintenance and security. Amira Park is currently maintained by the Municipality who work closely with FJP to ensure the quality of our park is upheld. “As for Faisal Sports Park, Mohammad Yousuf Zahid solely constructed and continues to maintain Faisal Park. Faisal Sports Park has two soccer fields and two basketball courts with over 3,500 visitors weekly and 90 registered sports teams. Our third park is in the Al-Khalidiya area and was sponsored by Al-Baik Corporation. Known as Nazeeh and Wartan park, Rami Abu Ghazala, CEO and founder of Al Baik, was driven by our cause to also create a park building FJP's first corporate park. Covering an area of 1,000 square meters, this park is designed to cater to the employees of Al Baik and has a basketball court, bench and play area for families as well,” Al-Zawawi remarked. Perseverance Throughout the years, Friends of Jeddah Parks have undergone numerous challenges ensuring they meet world class standards in creating and maintaining their parks. Currently, with three additional parks in progress, FJP's success story is rapidly spreading by word of mouth. Describing the long process of building a park, Al-Zawawi explained: “First, we obtain an empty land from the Municipality of Jeddah. Once provided, we approach a number of design firms to draw a plan of the proposed park alongside finding a willing sponsor to build the park. The design/architecture firm that develops the best plan is then chosen to take part in the construction of the park.” Al-Zawawi's face lit up with optimism while talking about the initiative's vision. She invites the whole community to participate in the organization's efforts. “We envision a cleaner, greener Jeddah and sustainability is key. Our message stretches far and wide to ensure our efforts empower underprivileged communities through allowing them to manage our parks, creating inclusiveness through bringing the society together and spreading awareness on a social, educational, health and environmental level. Part of our long term strategy entails clean-up campaigns in partnership with the Municipality amongst run down areas that also require reconstruction. Although parks may not be an option in some of the areas we target, the goal is to shed some light on areas where help is needed and with a little luck and grace, the government will lend a helping hand. Just because we are not penalized for littering does not give us the right to litter and voicing a concern that may lead to unexpected positive results is the least we can do.We hope to provide vast walking spaces, easily accessible to people in every neighborhood in the city. We hope to expand and replicate the same impacts seen in our three existing park through our park programs. And we hope to make a greener, friendlier, and more welcoming Jeddah. Never underestimate the positive impact of green!” To learn more about Friends of Jeddah Parks and find out how you can be a part of this green movement, check out their group on Facebook as their website is currently under progress. You may also contact the director at [email protected].
